Police are still investigating the murder of Surajpaul Etwaroo, the 38-year-old construction worker of Lot 380 Good Hope, Phase One, East Coast Demerara, who was killed some three months ago at Sideline Road, Good Hope, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday.
However, the dead man’s brother, Ferose Etwaroo, told Stabroek News recently he’s calling on the Guyana Police Force for justice in his brother’s death. He related that back in February, the suspect was placed on bail at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court and failed to show for his second court appearance. The case was adjourned until July 6.
Ferose Etwaroo believes that the suspect was granted bail because he claimed that his brother attacked him first and what happened was self-defence. He stated that the suspect now roams the streets and his family as well as others in the community are scared.
Ferose Etwaroo added that since Surajpaul was the sole breadwinner for his family, he now has to help look after them, and he is struggling financially, so he couldn’t afford a lawyer.
A police release in February had stated that an eyewitness told investigators she saw the suspect who was riding a bicycle being approached by an identifiable man. On being approached, the suspect went to the waist of his pants and the man ran away. The suspect then rode past her on his bicycle. About four minutes later, she said, she saw Etwaroo and the identifiable man on separate bicycles, armed with a baton and a cutlass heading in the suspect’s direction. The three subsequently confronted each other with the suspect and Etwaroo dismounting their respective bicycles while the identifiable male dropped his baton and ran into the eyewitness’ yard. According to the release, the eyewitness said Etwaroo began chopping at the suspect with the cutlass, who pulled a knife from his waist and retaliated. The suspect then picked up the dropped baton and dealt Etwaroo a blow which caused him to drop the cutlass, the witness told police. She added that the suspect picked up the cutlass and chopped Etwaroo in his abdomen, then used his knife to stab him several times while he lay motionless on the ground. The suspect then remounted his bicycle and escaped, the police release said..
The suspect, who hails from Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara, was later arrested.
Ferose Etwaroo had told this newspaper that his brother and a friend who has a speech impediment had gone to confront the suspect about a robbery committed on the friend. He said that according to what he heard, the speech-impaired friend who is also a construction worker, was robbed of $10,000 and his cellphone. According to Ferose Etwaroo, his brother had a baton in his hand and the suspect had a knife. He stated that when the suspect pulled out his knife, the friend ran away, leaving his brother, whereupon the suspect chopped his brother.
